Liams



(No Model.) 2-Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. S. WILLIAMS. CONVERTIBLE STEP LADDER.

No. 586,889. Patented July 20, 1897.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Si1eet 2.

' H. s. WILLIAMS. GONVERTIBLE STEP LADDER.

No. 586,889. Patented July 20, 1897.

' UNITED STATES AT N EICE- HORACE STANLEY WILLIAMS, OF BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PETER PETERSEN, OF SAME PLACE.

CONVERTIBLE STEP-LADDER.

SI-ECIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 586,889, dated July 20, 1897. Application filed June 3, 1896. Serial No. 594,122. (No model.) Patented in Queensland August 5, 1893, No. 2,425.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE STANLEY WIL- LIAMS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Brisbane, in the Colony of Queensland, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Convertible Step-Ladder, (for which I have obtained a patent in the Colony of Queensland, No. 2,425, dated August 1893, in the name of Horace 0 Stanley Williams and Alfred William Horwood,) of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are certain improvements in step-ladders whereby the same may be converted into a ladder of twice its lengthor used as two separate ladders.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a side e1evation of ladder extended for use as a wall or straight ladder; Fig.3, a front elevation of same; Fig. 4:, a side view of ladder folded for transport; Fig. 5, a front view of lock-joint on string of ladder; Fig. 6, an enlarged view of hinge and straps; Fig. '7, a broken back view of hinge, showing ladder connected; Fig. 8, a back view of same with halves of ladder disconnected; Fig. 9, adetail view of rungs B.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show the ladder in positions for use. t is constructed of wood, with iron or other metal fittings. One half of the ladder is constructed with flat treads and the other half with rungs. H and H are the strings, which are curved outward at the foot to insure safety and to enable the other portion of the ladder to be made exceptionally narrow, so as to reduce weight.

The A half is provided with treads, (marked A,) and the B half with rungs, (marked B.) These rungs are made with an arris top and bottom, thus providing a narrow fiat tread both when the ladder is used as a step-ladder and when extended as astraight ladder, in

1 the latter case the rungs assuming the same angle as the treads on the lower half of the ladder. These rungs are dovetailed into the strings H and H. Fig. 4 shows the ladder folded up for easy transport.

In Figs... 6, 7, and 8 larger views of hinge and straps are shown, which are made of any suitable metal of the shape shown in side elevation, Fig. 6, screwed onto the top of the strings of each half of the ladder. The ends of the straps (marked M and M) return both sides of the strings. G and G are the axles; J and J, the sockets, into which the axles fit. C and C are stops on socket J; D, a pin which is inserted in pin-hole in axle G between the stops C and C to prevent the ladder, when used as a step-ladder, from spreading. F and F are lugs with pin-holes, as shown, into which the pins D and D are inserted when the two halves are extended to make a straight ladder.

The top and bottom treads of half A project beyond the back of the strings H and H,

as shown at N and N, to keep ladder when folded from twisting and to relieve any possible strain on the axles of the hinge. The pins D and D are fastened to the ladder-strin gs by small chains and staples.

The reference-letters apply to like parts in all figures.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a convertible step-ladder, the combi-' nation, with the strings of the ladder-sections, of plates secured on the ends of said strings of one section and carrying sockets projecting beyond the strings, and plates. secured on the ends of the strings of the other section carrying axles adapted to enter said sockets, said axles projecting both in the same direction from their plates, and being provided with means for securing them in said sockets, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible step-ladder, the combination, with the strings of the ladder-sections, of the plates secured on the ends of said strings, correspondingplates carrying sockets provided with stops, axles arranged to enter said sockets, and a pin on said axle limited by said stops to restrict the movement of said ladder-sections and prevent them from spreading, substantially as described.

3. In a convertible step-ladder, the combination, with the strings of theladder-sections, of plates secured on the ends of said strings,

COIIQSPOUCllIlg plates carrying sockets pro- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my vided with stops, axles arranged to enter hand in presence of two Witnesses. said sockets and a pin )assed throu 'h an 7 i T T aperture of said axle to secure the same in HORACE STAB LEX 5 said socket, said pin. being limited by said \Vitnesses:

stop to restrict the movement of said ladder- E. GARLAND ABEL, sections, substantially as described. EDWIN PATRICK. 

